Whether it’s to try a fun and healthy alternative to a sandwich for lunch or to simply fulfill a sweet craving, fruit-based dishes, and restaurants are always being sought after. Those on the hunt don’t need to look further for a new, satisfying establishment than The Fruit Bar, located at 582 Pompton Avenue in Cedar Grove, which serves up the freshest creations in smoothies, bowls, protein shakes, and juices. Read on to find out about how two high school best friends opened their own business together to promote a healthy cause with The Juice Bar.
Road to Opening
Best friends Tom Koprowski and Bartek Rybka played football together at Paramus Catholic — one of the best teams in the state at the time they were in attendance. This led them both to represent New Jersey in college football with Tom going to Rutgers University and Bartek attending Lehigh University, making taking care of their health a top priority in everyday life.
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After a few years of brainstorming and collaborating The Fruit Bar was born. “We want to make eating healthy easier and delicious,” they told The Montclair Girl. “Health and wellness is very important, especially in this day and age. We strive to offer a healthy alternative to the community and a welcoming environment to enjoy it in!”
What to Expect
The store had its grand opening on February 11th, 2024. Students are piling in during their lunch hour with the shop’s location right near Cedar Grove High School and Cedar Grove Memorial Middle School.
“We ensure that all fruit is fresh daily, and the quality of our bowl bases and toppings is second to none. We really pride ourselves on the freshness and quality of our product,” Tom and Bartek added. The Fruit Bar sources its fruit from places like Brazil to make sure there are only low amounts of sugar in it. Patrons can build custom smoothie bowls with base options including pitaya, coconut, greens, and banana.
If one doesn’t believe that healthy options can come in different forms and big portions, they’ll be proven wrong at The Fruit Bar. Protein shakes like Jacked Cookie Monster (Oreos, yogurt, chocolate syrup, almond milk, and vanilla protein powder), and Green Goddess (frozen pineapple, fresh kale, protein powder, chia seeds, and milk) prove to be a tasty companion for a post-workout snack. Non-protein shakes, healthy juices, and wellness shots also fill the menu to make decisions an even more “fruitful” feat.
Its bestsellers include the Nutella Bowl (acai base with granola, banana, strawberry, and coconut flakes drizzled with Nutella), the Funky Monkey shake (peanut butter, banana, granola, chocolate whey protein, and chocolate almond milk), and its 16-ounce healthy juices that are each catered to a specific need like detoxing or nursing a headache. There are even refrigerated “Powermeals” (provided by a business of the same name who’s based in East Hanover) available for a healthy dinner on the go.
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Tom and Bartek have several plans in store for the business: they hope to expand the hours in the summer, implement seasonal menu items, host detox programs for juice cleanses and collaborate with other local health specialists, and attend local food truck festivals and parks to get more involved in the community. They hope to open more locations, too, since they’d love to “bring the energy” to other towns in the community. The Fruit Bar is open Saturday and Sunday from 9AM-3PM, and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8AM-5:30PM. It’s closed on Wednesday.
